Story by: Franklin ASARE-DONKOH
The Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources says it is investigating claims that former Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Forestry Commission (FC), Mr. Kwadwo Owusu Afriyie aka Sir John, gifted part of the Achimota Forest lands to his relatives.
This announcement was contained in a statement issued by the Sector Ministry, Monday, May 23, 2022.
A portion of the statement read: “the Ministry takes a serious view of the allegations and has requested for all documents relating to the lands in question as part of an initial inquiry to ascertain the veracity of the claims.”
A photograph of a portion of an alleged Will of the late Mr. Afriyie went viral on social media yesterday, Sunday, May 22, 2022.
The portion of an alleged Will revealed that there are three different lands said to be situated within the Achimota Forest that have been distributed to some of the late CEO of FC’s family members.
This sparked public criticism with some people alleging that the reason for the government declassifying part of the Forest as a reserve was to make such allocations legal.
But the Lands Ministry has refuted such claims, saying “the issues that form the basis of the allegations predate the tenure of the current Minister, Samuel Abdulai Jinapor.”
“It is important that he is seized with the full facts to enable him to take appropriate actions, if, indeed, there is any merit in the claims.”
“The Ministry assures the general public and the good people of Ghana that it will ensure that the national interest is protected at all times, especially in matters pertaining to the Achimota Forest,” the statement added.
Declassification of Achimota Forest Reserve
An eight-paged Executive Instrument (E.I.) was widely circulated on social media, which purported to mean that the classification of the Achimota Forest Reserve has been lifted to pave the way for a possible redevelopment for other purposes.
The Instrument gazetted on behalf of President Akufo-Addo by the Lands Minister, Samuel Abdulai Jinapor, stipulated that effective May 1, 2022, the land on which the Forest is located shall cease to be a forest reserve, pursuant to Section 19 of the Forest Act, 1927 (CAP. 157).
The cessation, per that document, was to be effective on May 1, 2022.
However, the Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, Mr. Abu Jinapor, has said the government is not selling the land.
According to him, plans are rather afoot to upgrade the Achimota Forest into a world-class asset.
Addressing the press on Tuesday, May 17, the sector minister emphasised that widespread reports about the supposed sale of the Forest are false and baseless, as the government has no such plans.
“The government intends to enrich the Achimota forest, revamp it and hopefully in the not too distant future, transform it into the likes of High Park of London and Central Park of New York, where Ghanaians can go and enjoy the beauty of nature and forest reserve as it happens in other parts of the world.”